E46 M3 cluster swap

[James Crivellone]

lol at edibas cable under the cluster :)

I've been glancing at the E46 M3 WDS and its not looking too complicated to make it work. The OBC functions may take a little tinkering through eh ;)

[nando]

I can probably get most of my money back selling my working E30 cluster. :p

[DEV0 E30]

^ F20C swap.

I know, but I still want torque though. I know not going with the f20 makes it 10x harder.

this cluster was $119 shipped.. yeah.. how many thousands does an AIM or Stack system cost? :p

plus my M20 already revs higher than the stock tach...

Jus' sayin' :p

They are way too much, you're right about that.

[nando]

this cluster was $119 shipped.. yeah.. how many thousands does an AIM or Stack system cost? :p

plus my M20 already revs higher than the stock tach...

[FredK]

^ F20C swap.

[DEV0 E30]

Do work as they say.

I understand the appeal.

But if any car I own is getting a new cluster over it's OEM it will be an AIM/STACK or an S2000 cluster (coolest cluster in an attainable production car IMO). Such modification will only be needed when whatever car can rev to 9k!

[nando]

no more SMG display. :)

now to decide - do I remove the "check" display on the left and replace with a similar gauge - maybe digital oil pressure?

DSC warning lamp will become my "check" indicator.. would be nice if I could figure out how to manually activate the OBC functions too.

[Sean]

Cool!

[nando]

Im making an adapter that will have c1, c2, & c3 conectors and the appropriate connections to the cluster.

[James Crivellone]

I think I'm going to pretty much follow what that other guy did. Will use my router to cut the peices out that I need, and finally use the 2' square peice of black plastic I bought 5 years ago for something. Gotta build a router table for it first. :p

finished up some of the wiring. I decided not to use the E46 light switch (too many complications, although it could be done..). I figured out what needed to be done to manually activate the backlights, turn signals, fog light indicator, and high beam indicator. Will have to use some relays for the turns, fog, and high beam lights (they're activated by ground on the E46, and +12v on the E30). The backlight is just regular +12v, so power from the light switch will work fine. It's totally reversable too, should I ever decide I want rain sensing wipers and automatic headlights. check panel will still work normally (except oil level, which I don't care about, and it doesn't work now anyway).

the wiring will be done with an "adapter" board that will hold the relays (x4). The hardest signal is actually the fuel level sensor - the E46 sensors are wired in parallel, the E30 in series. I'm hoping I can put a small resistor on the 2nd input, wire the E30 sensors to the 1st input, and recalibrate it. Then my 13 button OBC will still function 100% :)

How are you powering the OBC? Doing a quick adapter to run straight into the OBC harness and bypass the former cluster connection?

[nando]

I think I'm going to pretty much follow what that other guy did. Will use my router to cut the peices out that I need, and finally use the 2' square peice of black plastic I bought 5 years ago for something. Gotta build a router table for it first. :p

finished up some of the wiring. I decided not to use the E46 light switch (too many complications, although it could be done..). I figured out what needed to be done to manually activate the backlights, turn signals, fog light indicator, and high beam indicator. Will have to use some relays for the turns, fog, and high beam lights (they're activated by ground on the E46, and +12v on the E30). The backlight is just regular +12v, so power from the light switch will work fine. It's totally reversable too, should I ever decide I want rain sensing wipers and automatic headlights. check panel will still work normally (except oil level, which I don't care about, and it doesn't work now anyway).

the wiring will be done with an "adapter" board that will hold the relays (x4). The hardest signal is actually the fuel level sensor - the E46 sensors are wired in parallel, the E30 in series. I'm hoping I can put a small resistor on the 2nd input, wire the E30 sensors to the 1st input, and recalibrate it. Then my 13 button OBC will still function 100% :)

[nando]

It will be 100% reversable, dont worry :D

[James Crivellone]

yeah, but I want the trick adjusting-redline tach too, and I've already got all the stuff I need. :)

besides, I've already modified the cluster to fit an LC-1 wideband gauge where the SMG display used to be..

lololol, that is cool though


<-----Purist (as you know) :p

[nando]

yeah, but I want the trick adjusting-redline tach too, and I've already got all the stuff I need. :)

besides, I've already modified the cluster to fit an LC-1 wideband gauge where the SMG display used to be..

[James Crivellone]

I have an e30 m3 gauge face I could scan for you... that plus an E28 m5 coding plug (I have one you can buy)

2cents ;)